What Happens If You Don’t Pay: Suspension Timeline
The default timeline for an unpaid invoice: reminders, payment retries, suspension, cancellation and what happens to your data along the way.
If a renewal invoice goes unpaid, SolumeCore first reminds you, retries your card if you have one saved, and suspends the service when the due date passes. A suspended service is switched off but not deleted, and paying the invoice brings it back on its own. If it stays suspended for 15 days (by default), the service is cancelled for good.
The numbers below are the default values. SolumeCore can adjust them, so treat them as the usual schedule rather than a fixed promise. Check your invoice emails for your exact dates.
The default timeline
| When | What happens |
|---|---|
| About 3 days before renewal | The renewal invoice is created and emailed to you. |
| Before the due date | If you have a saved card or enough credit and auto-renew is on, the invoice is paid automatically (card charges are announced by email first). |
| Due date passes unpaid | The invoice becomes Overdue, you get an email and the service is suspended on the next daily billing run, usually within a day. |
| Then 1 day, 3 days and 7 days apart | The card is tried again (each wait counts from the previous attempt) and you get an email each time, even while the service is already suspended. Without a saved card, you get a reminder email instead. |
| 15 days after suspension | The service is cancelled definitively and its resources are released. |
Paying at any point before the final cancellation stops the process.
What suspension means for each product
- Game servers and apps: the server is switched off and the panel and SFTP are locked. Files, worlds and databases are kept. By default a suspended game server cannot download backups, so pay first if you need your data.
- VPS and VDS: the machine is stopped and unreachable. The disk is kept.
- Web hosting: the cPanel account and FTP are blocked and visitors see a "suspended account" page. Files, databases and email are kept.
Extras you had ordered but not paid for, such as an upgrade, a boost or a pause, are cancelled when the service is suspended, so paying them later cannot change a suspended service.
Once a service is cancelled it cannot be reactivated from the panel, and its data may be deleted. Pay, or contact support, before that point.
What happens at the final cancellation
After 15 days of suspension (default) the service is cancelled:
- Game servers and apps: the files are kept for a short retention period (5 days by default) and then deleted permanently. The panel shows the exact date, so write to support before then if you need a copy.
- VPS and VDS: the machine is stopped, its network is cut and its IP address is released. Do not rely on the data staying around: open a ticket immediately if you need it.
- Web hosting: by default the cPanel account stays suspended and is not deleted automatically. SolumeCore can enable automatic deletion, which removes files, databases and email with no way back.
Once a service is cancelled, you cannot reactivate it from the panel. Open a ticket as soon as possible and explain what you need.
How to get a suspended service back
- Sign in at dashboard.solumecore.com.
- Open Invoices & payments and find the overdue invoice (use the To pay filter).
- Click Pay and complete the payment. See how to pay an invoice.
- The service turns back on by itself once the payment is confirmed, which usually takes seconds. A suspension caused by abuse or a security case is different: it is lifted by resolving the case, not by paying.
If you have several overdue invoices, pay them together when the option is available. See volume discounts, cart and paying several invoices.
Other reasons for a suspension
- A payment dispute. By default, if you open a dispute or chargeback with your card issuer, the service paid with that payment is suspended automatically until it is sorted out. If you have a billing question, contact us first.
- Security or abuse cases. These are handled separately and can be appealed from your panel.
How to avoid an unpaid invoice
- Save a card and keep auto-renew on. See automatic renewals and billing cycle.
- Keep some account credit available. See account balance and credits.
- Keep your card up to date. See add or change your payment card.
- Check that our emails are not going to your spam folder.
FAQ
How long do I have to pay before my server is suspended?
By default the invoice is created 3 days before the renewal date and the service is suspended when the due date passes unpaid. The exact date is on your invoice.
Will I lose my data if I don't pay?
Not right away. A suspended service keeps its data. The data is only at risk after the service is cancelled, which by default happens 15 days after the suspension. Game server files are then kept 5 days by default before deletion.
Does a failed card charge suspend my service immediately?
No. A failed charge before the due date does not suspend anything by itself. You get an email and the card is retried. The suspension happens when the due date passes without payment.
Can I pay after the service is suspended?
Yes, as long as it has not been cancelled. Pay the invoice and the service comes back automatically.
Can I ask for more time?
Open a support ticket before the due date and explain your situation. We cannot promise an extension, but we will look at it.
Related articles
- How to pay a SolumeCore invoice
- Automatic renewals and billing cycle
- Card payment declined or failed
- How to cancel a service
If you would rather start fresh with a new server, see our plans.